IN THE NEWS

A new partnership will bring free parenting techniques, tips and resources to the River Region.

The Brighter Futures Youth Initiative will host the Better Parenting for Brighter Futures Assembly and Expo on April 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl to connect River Region parents with professional resources and skills to aid in the development of Montgomery youth.

Parents or guardians are encouraged to bring their children, ages 5 to 15 years old, who will enjoy activities like football, basketball, soccer and more designed to teach youth how to be leaders on and off the field. Celebrity athletes, medical and mental health professionals and family justice system leaders will host sessions for adults on a variety of topics from 9:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Following these sessions, parents and guardians can browse an expo allowing parents to access resources from private organizations, governmental agencies and nonprofits who interact with children, parents and families.

The initiative is led by the Samaritan Counseling Center, in coordination with the city of Montgomery and Montgomery County, Church of the Highlands, Center Pointe Fellowship Church, Mental Health America of Montgomery, Montgomery Public Schools and the Alabama Department of Mental Health. The project stemmed from a September 2017 community-wide gathering of clergy, counselors and business leaders during which the participants worked to define and prioritize mental health issues — including suicide, bullying and domestic violence — affecting the River Region. As a result, participants concluded more needed to be done to emphasize better parenting skills in Montgomery. Mayor Todd Strange challenged the group to plan a community-wide event during which Montgomery parents come to find available resources and reinforce skills.

Parenting Summit set for late April in MontgomeryThursday, March 1, 2018, 1:49 pm, By Bryan Henry, Reporter

The expo will begin with celebrity athletes talking about how they rose from their challenging environments. (Source: Brighter Futures MGM)

Post Date: 03/01/2018By Bryan Henry, WSFA Reporter

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -Montgomery city leaders believe they've come up with an idea that could make a difference in reducing crime. And that's not all; they hope the idea will encourage mothers and fathers to become better parents.

At Montgomery City Hall Thursday morning, Mayor Todd Strange laid out a plan for the first-ever Better Parenting for Brighter Futures Summit in April.

"It will focus on conflict resolution," said Strange.

City leaders hope this will be a catalyst in reducing the crime rate. The expo is the result of a community-wide meeting last September that included clergy, professionals and counselors.

"We have so many youths being involved in activities they ought not to be involved in and so this is an opportunity, because so often we get involved in youths and activities, and the parents said 'Well, I didn't know,' or, 'I didn't know how to help,'" said the Mayor.

"Another one will be on domestic violence, and talk about what are the ramifications of domestic violence and how you can do some conflict resolution," said Cary Kuhlmann, executive director for Samaritan Counseling Center in Montgomery.

The summit is set for April 21 at the Multiplex at Crampon Bowl starting at 9 in the morning. The day will begin with celebrity athletes talking about how they rose above trying circumstances in life. Some of the topics will include bullying, suicide, domestic violence and how to become a better parent in the age of social media.

At this point, the expo is a one-time event but could become annual depending on it turns out on April 21.

The summit is free of charge and lunch will be served, according to the itinerary.

Assembly and Expo to Connect Parents with Parenting Experts and Resources;Celebrity Athletes with Youth

The Brighter Futures Youth Initiative will host the Better Parenting for Brighter Futures Assembly & Expo April 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl to connect River Region parents with professional resources and skills to aid in the development of Montgomery youth.

Post Date: 03/07/2018

MONTGOMERY – A new partnership will bring free parenting techniques, tips and resources to the River Region.

The Brighter Futures Youth Initiative will host the Better Parenting for Brighter Futures Assembly & Expo April 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl to connect River Region parents with professional resources and skills to aid in the development of Montgomery youth.

Parents or guardians are encouraged to bring their children, ages 5 to 15 years old, who will enjoy activities like football, basketball, soccer and more designed to teach youth how to be leaders on and off the field. Celebrity athletes, medical and mental health professionals and family justice system leaders will host sessions for adults on a variety of topics from 9:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Following these sessions, parents and guardians can browse an expo allowing parents to access resources from private organizations, governmental agencies and non-profits who interact with children, parents, and families.

The initiative is led by the Samaritan Counseling Center, in coordination with the City of Montgomery and Montgomery County, Church of the Highlands, Center Pointe Fellowship Church, Mental Health America of Montgomery, Montgomery Public Schools and the Alabama Department of Mental Health. The project stemmed from a September 2017 community wide gathering of clergy, counselors and business leaders during which the participants worked to define and prioritize mental health issues – including suicide, bullying and domestic violence – affecting the River Region. As a result, participants concluded more needed to be done to emphasize better parenting skills in Montgomery. Mayor Todd Strange challenged the group to plan a community-wide event during which Montgomery parents come to find available resources and reinforce skills.